logo
Saudi Arabia reaffirms dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development

Saudi Arabia reaffirms dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development

Saudi Gazettea day ago
Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia, represented by Acting Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Eng. Haytham AlOhali participated in the annual meeting of the UN Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. This year's session marked a special edition celebrating 15 years since the commission's establishment.
Saudi Arabia's participation reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing digital transformation, fostering global digital economic growth, bridging the digital divide, and expanding access to communication and technology services.
Eng. AlOhali reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development and praised the Broadband Commission's continued support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He noted that CST operates as a 5G regulator, as recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and leads a range of national and global initiatives in collaboration with international partners to help realize shared objectives.
He emphasized that the Kingdom's national digital strategy aligns closely with the ITU's 'Connect 2030' vision. He also referenced ongoing cooperation with the ITU to update the study titled Connecting Humanity Through Sustainable, Affordable, and Innovative Solutions, which aims to identify connectivity gaps and develop practical approaches to achieving universal and affordable internet access.
AlOhali highlighted the success of the Open Access Initiative, which enabled infrastructure sharing among telecom providers and extended fiber-optic connections to more than 3.9 million homes—surpassing earlier targets. He further noted the Kingdom's continued investment in non-terrestrial network technologies, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), to extend coverage to underserved areas.
Regionally, he pointed to Saudi Arabia's leadership in launching the 'Digital Sustainability Tool' in cooperation with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), as well as its role in leading the Circular Digital Economy track under the ITU's Green Digital Action initiative.
While stressing that closing the digital divide remains one of the most pressing global challenges, AlOhali called for greater collaboration and joint efforts to achieve inclusive digital development.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi Arabia maintains top cybersecurity global ranking in 2025
Saudi Arabia maintains top cybersecurity global ranking in 2025

Saudi Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Saudi Arabia maintains top cybersecurity global ranking in 2025

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia maintained its top global ranking in the Cybersecurity Index, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook's cybersecurity indicator for 2025. The Yearbook is an annual report published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), based in Switzerland, on the competitiveness of nations. The yearbook benchmarks the performance of 63 countries based on 340 criteria measuring different facets of competitiveness. This top ranking is a direct reflection of the unwavering support and guidance provided to the Kingdom's cybersecurity sector by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Their vision propelled Saudi Arabia to achieve leading positions year after year across various international indicators. This includes the Kingdom's classification as Tier 1 – 'Role-modeling' in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, published by the UN specialized agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This success is part of a broader series of achievements since the adoption of the leadership's insightful and proactive approach to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity sector. This holistic approach integrates both security and development dimensions, encompassing local and international levels. Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Authority, affirmed that this achievement "adds to the series of achievements and successes scored by Saudi Arabia in all fields since the launch of the leadership's insightful, proactive vision to establish the cybersecurity sector, in a comprehensive manner, encompassing both security and development aspects, with all its local and international dimensions." He said that the cybersecurity system has witnessed significant development in record time since the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) as the Saudi entity responsible for cybersecurity and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs and the establishment of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as its strategic and technical partner. "These are two fundamental pillars of the Saudi model for cybersecurity, the outcomes of which have contributed to strengthening national cybersecurity and technological sovereignty, localizing priority technologies, and enhancing information sharing and international cooperation," he said. It is noteworthy that the NCA is the competent authority for cybersecurity in the Kingdom and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs. It aims to strengthen cybersecurity to protect the country's vital interests, infrastructure, and national security. It is responsible for stimulating the growth of the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom, encouraging innovation and investment in it, and developing policies, governance mechanisms, frameworks, standards, controls, and guidelines related to cybersecurity. This is to achieve a secure and reliable Saudi cyberspace that enables growth and prosperity.

Eastern Province Emir hails efforts to enhance passenger experience at causeway
Eastern Province Emir hails efforts to enhance passenger experience at causeway

Saudi Gazette

time3 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Eastern Province Emir hails efforts to enhance passenger experience at causeway

Saudi Gazette report DHAHRAN — The King Fahd Causeway, the strategic 25-kilometer bridge linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, has witnessed a historic surge in traffic, with over 33 million passengers recorded travelling in both directions throughout 2024 — marking the highest figures since the crossing opened nearly four decades ago. The milestone was highlighted during a briefing attended by Prince Saud bin Naif, emir of Eastern Province, who praised the tireless efforts of all teams working on the causeway. The emir commended both Saudi and Bahraini authorities, as well as the private sector partners, for their contributions in improving operational efficiency and elevating the travel experience. In a briefing, Prince Saud underscored the causeway's pivotal role in strengthening economic, social, and tourism ties between the two Gulf neighbours. He also noted the bridge's significance as a vital artery that continues to support regional connectivity and mutual prosperity. The King Fahd Causeway Authority reported that the introduction of advanced digital systems has drastically cut wait times. The E-JESR electronic platform, which enables pre-payment of toll fees, now processes more than half of all transactions. As a result, the average toll crossing time has dropped from 15 seconds to just 3 seconds, reducing peak travel time across the causeway to around 21 minutes. Traffic on the causeway traditionally spikes during summer vacations and festive periods such as Eid, underscoring its status as a key gateway for tourism and family visits. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to implementing more smart solutions aimed at enhancing safety, efficiency, and traveller convenience in the years ahead.

Saudi Arabia maintains top global ranking in cybersecurity
Saudi Arabia maintains top global ranking in cybersecurity

Saudi Gazette

time5 hours ago

  • Saudi Gazette

Saudi Arabia maintains top global ranking in cybersecurity

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia maintained its top global ranking in the Cybersecurity Index, according to the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook. The Yearbook is an annual report published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), based in Switzerland, on the competitiveness of nations. The yearbook benchmarks the performance of 63 countries based on 340 criteria measuring different facets of competitiveness. Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Authority, affirmed that this achievement "adds to the series of achievements and successes scored by Saudi Arabia in all fields since the launch of the leadership's insightful, proactive vision to establish the cybersecurity sector, in a comprehensive manner, encompassing both security and development aspects, with all its local and international dimensions." He said that the cybersecurity system has witnessed significant development in record time since the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) as the Saudi entity responsible for cybersecurity and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs and the establishment of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as its strategic and technical partner. "These are two fundamental pillars of the Saudi model for cybersecurity, the outcomes of which have contributed to strengthening national cybersecurity and technological sovereignty, localizing priority technologies, and enhancing information sharing and international cooperation," he said. It is noteworthy that the NCA is the competent authority for cybersecurity in the Kingdom and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs. It aims to strengthen cybersecurity to protect the country's vital interests, infrastructure, and national security. It is responsible for stimulating the growth of the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom, encouraging innovation and investment in it, and developing policies, governance mechanisms, frameworks, standards, controls, and guidelines related to cybersecurity. This is to achieve a secure and reliable Saudi cyberspace that enables growth and prosperity.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store